Ex-Pack QB Rowe waived by the Bengals

Aug. 30, 2008

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Despite seemingly outplaying his main competition this preseason, former Wolf Pack quarterback Jeff Rowe was waived from the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday.

Rowe was fighting for the third-string position with rookie Jordan Palmer, the brother of the Bengals’ Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer.

The 6-foot-5, 221-pound Rowe was the team’s leading passer in the preseason, completing 24-of-43 passes (55.8 percent) for 228 yards. He had one interception and a quarterback rating of 61.0 in four games. Jordan Palmer, meanwhile, completed 6-of-10 passes for 51 yards and an interception in three games.

“It was a little unexpected,” Rowe said of being cut. “But you know it’s always a possibility when you’re a third-string quarterback.”

Rowe, a fifth-round pick in 2007, wasn’t ready to say nepotism was the reason he was waived.

“It was a situation that I didn’t really know what to expect,” Rowe said. “I did all that I could do. I got a lot of reps. I just know that I did all that I could.”

The McQueen High graduate said he has improved a lot by getting NFL reps and learning a pro system. He is hoping to hook on with another team.

“I think how the process works, is that I will literally know in the next 24 hours when or not I will be with another team,” Rowe said. “I do have some good film from preseason, so that helps.”

By waiving Rowe, the Bengals will make history by carrying both Palmers on the roster. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other brother quarterback tandem to play on the same team in the Super Bowl era is Ty and Koy Detmer for the 1997 Philadelphia Eagles.

Other former Wolf Pack players who were waived this week include:

o Wide receiver Maurice Mann, who was waived by the Washington Redskins on Saturday.

o Guard Isaiah Ross, who was waived by the New Orleans Saints on Friday.

o Linebacker Jorge Cordova, who was waived by the Tennessee Titans on Monday.

Reno High graduate Josh Barrett was also waived Saturday by the Denver Broncos. The safety from Arizona State was selected in the seventh round of this year’s draft.